Independent: Blues can use loss to advantage

Painful as it was, The Independent suggest City’s weekend loss at Villa Park may not, ultimately, have been as bad as it seemed at the time.

The Blues tossed a 2-1 lead away against Paul Lambert’s side to lose a match that seemed destined to end in victory, but Kevin Garside takes a different slant on Saturday’s events.

He writes: “If ever a loss were to classified beneficial it might just be Manchester City’s reverse at Aston Villa: if it persuades the grandees of Bayern Munich to lower their shields even a fraction on Wednesday, it will not have been in vain.

“City’s 3-2 defeat was a result that spoke volumes for the victors without diminishing the credibility of the vanquished.

“Unlike the perplexing loss in Cardiff, City gave a full account of themselves and demonstrated why, despite two defeats on the road in the Premier League, they remain a fearsome proposition for any, including the next guests at the Etihad.”

Interesting perspective!

Meanwhile Sports Mole also look at the upcoming clash with Bayern, but this time through the cultured eyes of Fernandinho, who says victory would issue a massive statement of intent for the Blues.

Matt Cotton writes: “Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has told his teammates to make a statement against Bayern Munich this week that will force the rest of Europe to stand up and take notice.

“The two sides meet at the Etihad on Wednesday as holders Bayern travel to England for their Champions League clash in Group D.

“Having endured poor campaigns in Europe's elite competition in recent years, Fernandinho says that it is about time his side put in a noteworthy display.

‘Last season, Bayern Munich were the team that played the best football and they became European champions, so if you beat them, people on the outside will notice,’ Fernandinho said.

‘It would be a huge statement to the football world if we could beat the best team in Europe, one of the best teams in the world. The projection would be much higher than beating United. That is why a win for us would be so important.’”